Quilt Shop Delights

Just for a change from Truly Scrumptious, here are some photos I took of the shop area at The Quilted Crow's Christmas Gathering in September.

If you're anything like me, you like to see lots of samples when you visit a quilt shop. The Quilted Crow is very inspirational in this respect.

I love the way they use old furniture, suitcases and bric-a-brac to display their wares.

These quilts hanging on the wall made a fabulous backdrop to the shop area.



Some Natalie Bird patterns and comptatible fabrics.

Hope you enjoyed these piccies. It is a holiday on Monday in Northern Tasmania. As I don't work tomorrow, that makes four days off. Hoping to do some serious stitching.

It's also nearly time for the Christmas decorating to start! I like to start in early November ... it's always exciting unpacking each box ... takes me about two weeks ... usually do a mini spring clean at the same time.

More Truly Scrumptious

Tempting as it is, I am trying hard not to start any new projects at the moment, so the only thing I can show is another Truly Scrumptious block. This is the fourth of nine ... number 5 is nearly done - maybe a photo tomorrow.

Still working on PIF and SSCS gifts ... would love to show you, but that would spoil the surprise for the recipients.

That's all for today.

Some Very Nice Mail

Yippee! My internet connection is working again. I've been offline since last Friday ... all very annoying ... but it's fixed now.

I was fortunate to win a giveway on Joy's blog. The prize was this lovely bag pattern. Thanks Joy.



Some other very exciting mail recently arrived from Spain. A while again, I helped Margaret from A Sampler of Stitches get a copy of one of our great Australian craft magazines. She very kindly said she would make me something in return so I was very intrigued and excited when these little packages appeared in my mailbox.



I have admired Margaret's lovely cross-stitching ever since I discovered blogland last year. Just look at the beautiful needlework set she has made me.



Oliver is impressed too.



Here are some close-ups of Margarets exquisite work. I love the colours she used.







I have always been in awe of the beautiful way Margaret finishes her cross-stitch pieces. The cord and edging on this piece are very good examples.



As if this wasn't enough, I also received this lovely Gutermann tin filled with very handy threads. Thanks Margaret ... you were very generous.



I like this picture of Oliver ... actually didn't spot his reflection until after I'd taken the picture. Rather cute!

A Scrumptious Update

Just a couple of things to share tonight. I've finished stitching my third Truly Scrumptious block.



These are so much fun to stitch ... a good project to work on when 'watching' TV.




Don't you love those knobbly knees!



And here is a sneaky peak of another project I've been working on lately. You will have to wait a bit longer to see what it is.



Finally pop over to my sister Kathy's blog and have a look at her shabby loo makeover. I think you will be impressed.

Happy Birthday Mum

I finally finished the Crossroads tablerunner, made from Hemming House fabrics, for Mum's birthday ... it was a week late but she didn't mind. She has put in an order for another one!

Quite pleased with my machine quilting ... even though it's still all straight lines. I'd love to be able to do swirls and stippling but I'm always scared of ruining the project.

I love Heather Mulder Peterson's patterns and was pleased to discover recently that she has a blog called Trends and Traditions. Definitely worth a visit ... lots of beautiful quilts and fabrics to see and her quilting studio is amazing.

I'm Still Here!

Goodness me! It's been a whole week since my last post. Where does the time go? In my case returning to work left a big dent in my stitching and blogging time. I've been busy over the weekend working on birthday presents and a PIF gift ... sorry I can't share just yet, so here are some more pictures from the Christmas Gathering at Campania.

Each of us received a beautiful stitched birdie ... mine in one of my favourite colour combinations ... pink and white.



There were lots of giveaways and I was lucky to win this new Hatched and Patched pattern. The original quilt was also on display and it is even lovelier in real life.



I went a bit crazy in the shop and purchased these patterns .... will blame it on the excitement of all the original samples being on display!





Also found some rusty bells and red and green reproduction fabrics. (Well, it is less than 3 months to Christmas!) And of course had to get the Angel Story book. I've been well and truly seduced by all the beautiful ones being made in blogland .... think I will make mine with Simplicity fabrics by 3 Sisters. (Not sure when this will happen, but it will happen sometime!)



It was also very exciting to see all the projects from Anni's Christmas Story book ... have been looking through my stash for suitable fabrics. I am a long way behind with my blog reading and replying to all your lovely comments. Will try and do something about this soon.

A Christmas Gathering

Yesterday I went to A Christmas Gathering hosted by The Quilted Crow at the Campania hall with my sister Kathy. It was a lovely day of chatting to new and old friends, oohing over beautiful projects, eating lovely food and in my case just a little stitching.

There were lots of bloggers attending, so of course we had to have a group photo.



Back (L-R) Jo, Helen, Alex, Fiona and Leanne
Front (L-R) Me, Cathy and Sarah.

My sister, Kathy took the photo.

Sarah and I had a little challenge between ourselves to finish our Home Sweet Home stitcheries by yesterday. Here we are with the finished items. I love Sarah's frame made by her neighbour.



As usual, there were lots of lovely projects to choose from. Anni Downs had some gorgeous Christmas Berry Baubles in wool ...



and this adorable bag called Petunia's Garden Bag.



It has this handy little pocket on the back.



This is another version of the bag with a ricrac trim. Love the fabrics.



Natalie Bird from The Birdhouse designed this Christmas Trio Stitchery Wallhanging ...



and a Sunflower Wool Bag which is pictured here with Leonie from The Quilted Crow's Tiny Treasure Cones.



Continuing with the wool theme, Leonie also designed Nellie's Sewing Box which is a paper mache box covered with beautiful felted wool applique.



Deidre from the Quilted Crow made two lovely wool scarves. One had pockets and snowmen appliques. Take a look on The Quilted Crow blog if you'd like to see them as I didn't manage to get any photos.



It has taken me ages to do this post so I will leave the rest of my news to next time.

Crossroads Tablerunner No 2

On Wednesday this selection of fabrics arrived from Quilters Anonymous. Starting from the left, the first three are Allspice Tapestry by Figtree Quilts, the next two are from Minnick and Simpsons Winter range, then we have a red ticking and finally a cream print which is from the Hemming House range by Brannock and Patek.

I needed the cream print for the posts of this tablerunner I am making from a Hemming House charm pack. I also plan to use it for the backing and binding.

The pattern is by Heather Mulder Peterson of Anka's Treasures's and is called Crossroads Tablerunner. (I have recently discovered that Heather has a lovely blog called Trends and Traditions. She is also featured in the October 2008 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting.) This is the second tablerunner I have made from this pattern.



Please excuse the hideous ironing board cover!



It is a very easy pattern and goes together really quickly. I was rather pleased that I was able to get most of the intersections close to perfect.